ORIGIN

6 Seats & 8 MPG: 1971 Cadillac Sedan DeVille

This 1971 Cadillac Sedan DeVille (chassis 683491Q216650) is said to have 48,500 miles and looks to be in fantastic shape. Originality isn’t mentioned, and the ad is short on specifics, but provided it’s a sorted mechanically, structurally and electrically there’d be little else to do but cruise. These early 70’s Caddys used to seem gauche, but time and dwindling numbers have softened their flaws and allowed us to appreciate them in all their glorious excess. Find this one here at Copley Motorcars in Needham, Massachusetts for $12,800.

Pillarless hardtops have been made permanently obsolete by modern side impact safety standards, but regardless of their practical shortcomings we love a good land barge with no B-pillars on a sunny spring day. Cypress Green metallic paint is a prototypically period color, but looks good on the block long beast and seems to be in nice shape as well. Vinyl tops are something we don’t miss, but this one actually breaks up the car’s visual mass pretty well—it’s hard to picture without it.

The interior isn’t shown in detail but looks very tidy from what we can make out in the photo below. Green leather and patterned cloth upholstery work well with the exterior, and considering the car’s low mileage the possibility that it remains original isn’t out of the question. Like the seller notes these cars came with power everything: windows, locks, seats, mirrors, climate and cruise control, and the kind of stretching out room anyone born after the mid 80’s might not believe possible.

The big 472 CI V8 isn’t shown, but is said to be fully serviced and ready to guzzle gas—not an understatement at 8-10 MPG. A 3-speed auto sends power all the way back to the rear wheels, and this one is said to include the original owner’s manual and spare keys. It’d be nice to know a bit more of its history, but these car’s straightforward design and robust mechanicals allow inexpensive upkeep to offset their ridiculous fuel economy.

If you’ve got a small fortune to spend on gas, a very large garage, and maybe a penchant for big cigars and loud shirts then this could be your ideal car. We’d love to fly out with a few friends and float it back home to the West Coast.